The first recall was definitely not well publicized. I would've taken part in it if I knew about it.

I have a Dell, and the heat from it even damaged the table I used to keep it on (granted, the excessive heat could have been caused by something other than the battery). I was just careful not to keep in my lap after reading about the guy who burned a piece of his manhood with a dell: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/11...s_with_laptop/

(they mention its a Dell at the end of the story)